VOL. LXVI
INDIANAPOLIS, DEC. 23, 1911.
NO. 51
Making the Night as Light as Day
LIGHTING FARM  HOMES.
THE FARM AS WELL AS THE CITY
USING IMPROVED SYSTEMS.
The installation of new lighting systems on the farm has awakened a great
interest in this subject. Not only the
residence but the other farm buildings
are using these new systems of lighting. Recently the Indiana Farmer
gave some interesting information
on the subject of electric farm lighting,
and now we present another in which
much interest is taken:
The intense brilliancy of the acetylene flame, which has become so familiar to us during the last few years
because of its concentrated rays, used
universally as a headlight for automobiles, has necessarily attracted an immense amount of attention. The utility of acetylene, however, is not confined to this very limited sphere, but the
real use of acetylene illumination is to
be found in the country home.
Although acetylene illumination is
comparatively new, its larger use being
but a matter of a decade, it still has an
interesting history, which dates back,
speaking commercially, to the early
90's. About sixteen years would therefore cover the period from the discovery of crystalline calcium carbide at
Spray, North Carolina, by Wilison, to
the development of the present very
large industry.
During the whole period of evolution, from the crude acetylene generators of the past to their present perfection, there have been many questions as to the safety of the new illuminant. In this connection it is interesting to know that the National
Board of Fire Underwriters has exercised a supervision over this industry
from the first, and, as a result of their
requirement, the acetylene generator
has become, according to the formal
resolutions of the Board of Engineers
of this august body, so safe that they
have declared acetylene safer than the
illumination  which  it replaces.
In the short period of time since the
industry has become a commercial
possibility, acetylene has found its way
throughout the whole world. In tropical countries, especially, acetylene is
utilized to an extraordinary and rapidly increasing extent. In the United
States it is estimated over 150,000
country homes are utilizing acetylene,
and the number of institutions, hospitals, hotels, government barracks, forts,
cts., which are depending upon the
brilliant light derived from carbide is
astonishing.
The very large use of acetylene in the
illumination of country homes should
be given careful consideration by all
those interested in the greater use of
light. Light ls a civilizing influence.
The abandonment of the candle and
the cruder lamps, supplied with whale
and other oils for the cheaper and
more effective kerosene lamps, marked
a new era in the country. The greater civilization of the rural population
has undoubtedly been accelerated to a
marked degree by the use of kerosene.
A good light Induces the reading of
eood books, magazines and other pub
lications, and encourages greater studentship among the children. If kerosene was a step forward from a candle,
it can also be said that acetylene is a
tremendous advance over kerosene. By
the use of acetylene the dangers of
kerosene are avoided, the daily task of
lamp cleaning Is entirely eliminated,
no smell permeates the house and the
air is left pure and fresh.
Acetylene apparatus is being installed with great rapidity in farm homes
in all sections of the country.     When it
industry on the farms of the United j
States the total value for 1910 for cattle is reported as being $1,485,000,000,
as compared to $1,475,000,000 in 1900,
an increase of only $10,000,000 in a period of ten years. Dairy cows were
valued at $508,617,000 in 1900, and at
$704,612,000 in 1910. In number, dairy
cows increased during this period from
17,135,633 to 20,580,845, and in aver-
ago value from $29.68  to $34.24.
Large Decrease of Cattle.
There were large decreases during
the decade in number and value of
most other classes of cattle. Cows other
than those kept for dairy purposes, increased  229,279 or just 2  per cent, but
A Typical Farm Home and
is considered that, figuring candle power for candle power, acetylene is no
more expensive than city gas at a dollar
per thousand cubic feet, it can be seen
that this home-made gas for country
homes is not expensive. Anyone who
can afford the initial expense, which is
not great, may easily install this convenient and simple apparatus, for they
can see in it a labor-saving device for
the housewife, greater happiness for
the whole family and a beautiful addition to their home. The modern generator, which has been approved by
the Board of Fire Underwriters and
which is known as a permitted ma-
chine.is properly safeguarded in every
respect. It will be found that such a
generator of the first class can be purchased from the manufacturer, delivered to almost any home with the freight
paid and the home of eight or ten
rooms properly piped and handsome
fixtures installed, for a cost of approximately two hundred dollars. Once
installed such a generator is good indefinitely, as there are no parts to wear
or get out of order. It is rather Interesting to note that the installation of
a single generator in a community so
brightens the particular home in which
it has been placed that the neighbors
become immediately Interested.
INDUSTRIAL CONDITION OF AGRICULTURE.
REVIEW OF THE UVE STOCK AND
VALUE IN THE UNITED STATES.
According to recently issued statistics
by the United States Department of
of Agriculture upon  the cattle r»!s!nvS
decreased in total value $8,180,000, the
average value per head going down
from $23.47 to $22.32. It is quite possible that this lower average value ls
due, at least in part, to the fact that
the enumeration was six weeks earlier
in the spring, and that for this as well
as other reasons the animals were of
lower average in 1910, than in 1900.
What has been said of cows, not kept
for dairy purposes, is equally true of
yearling heifers. They increased 78,-
967, or 1.1 per cent, in number, but
decreased almost $19,000,000 in value,
or from $16.94 to $14.44 per head.
Yearling steers and bulls fell off ln
average value at about the same rate;
from  $18.75  to  $16.79.
"Increaase of Cows and Heifers.
The total number of cows and heifers reported in 1900 was 35,869,310, as
compared with 39,622,768 in 1910, the
increase being 3,753,458, or 10.5 per
cent. This measures as nearly as possible the increase of the breeding stock
on the farms of the country.
Less Beef Steers.
There was a noticeable decrease In
the number of steers and bulls. Their
total number at all ages in 1910 was
13,845,088 with a total value of $363,-
000,000, and an average of $26.22,
whereas the number in 1900 was 16,-
534,618, with a total value of over
$436,000,000. Thus, there is a decrease
of 2,689,430, or 16.3 per cent, in the
total number of all steers and bulls,
and a loss of $73,446,000, or 16.8 per
cent, In their total value.
The Dairy Sections.
It was found that the New England,
Middle Atlantic, and East North Central States, covering the district east
of the Mississippi and north of the Potomac and Ohio rivers, was the dairy
section of the country, producing 40.2
per cent of all the dairy cows. From
these states, excluding calves, are reported only 14.6 per cent of all other
cattle. Practically the same number
of dairy cows, representing 43.2 per
cent, are found in the states west of
the Mississippi river, which also, excluding calves, have 72.4 per cent of all
other cattle. Thus the western half
of the country is the chief beef producing area.
In the New England States 63 per
cent of all cattle are dairy cows; in
! the Middle Atlantic States, 61.4 per
cent; in the East North Central States,
41.3 per cent. This area is the chief
dairy section.
Texas Ranks   First.
Texas has tho largest total value of
cattle on farms, amounting to $129,-
131,000, or considerably more than
three times the total for the New England States. Only 1,011,204 out of a
total number of 6,721,502 cattle, however, are dairy cows.
The value of Iowa cattle ranks close
second In states, being $119,000,000.
Eight other states reported more than
$50,000,000 each as the value of cattle on farms. They are, In the order
of their value, New York, Kansas, Illinois, Nebraska Missouri Wisconsin,
Ohio'and Minnesota.
Over $39,000,000 in Indiana.
The total value of cattle in Indiana
is $39,110,000. The total number for
the state is 1,363,016, of which 633,-
591 are dairy cows.
SILAGE     THE     CHEAPEST     FEED
GROWN.
Bdltora  Indiana  Farmer:
I would like to break the shell of
some of your readers as to feeding silage to farm animals; why, they say, so
little said on this subject, and of the
little said why so much stress is put
upon its value for dairy cattle? Why
not give silage credit for being the most
economical feed for cattle of all sorts
and sizes and include horses and
mules on the same basis.
This is only my second year
in       the       use      of      silo and    if
there Is anything wrong In feeding it to horses and mules of any age
would like to be put right. Up to this
time I have had flne results. My silo
is 14x30 feet; filled it September 20 to
23 at cost of $180 (supposed to hold 90
tons) off of eight acres of very good
corn.     I allowed myself as follows:
Rent for 8 acres $50.00
Breaking    sami   and    preparing
for planting       25.00
Cultivation    35.00
All cost of filling including board
of men      70.00
Total  cost    $180.00
This means that my silage cost me
$2.00 per ton in silo. Now, I feel
that it is worth to me at least two times
the cost and I never sold a gallon of
milk or a pound of cream In my life.
What I would like to see would be a
more thorough investigation of the
benefits to be obtained by the use of
silage or a large part of the ration for
farm stock, consisting of horses, cattle